Hot Mikado

Another simple and yet very striking set designed by Julian Peckham, notable for a circular tunnel exit upstage centre, with focused lights pointing outward from the circle, creating a stylised rising sun pattern.  A couple of tables made the opening scene into a sort of night club set, for The Gentlemen of Japan, in which the dancing turned into a face-off with knives, only for the knives to become Japanese fans.  In the pit, a six-piece band working their socks off under the direction of Jonathan Spratt.  The combination of volume and very complex vocal arrangements made it hard to follow the lyrics in some of the ensemble pieces, so the songs were at their clearest in the solo and small group pieces like "Let's Swing A Madrigal".  There was quite a difference in tone between Stephanie Jones, playing Yum-Yum and Jack McGill playing Nanki-Poo, with McGill having the lighter voice.  Nevertheless, their duet “This is What I’ll Never Do” was very effective, both musically and as a choreographed piece of acting.  A better balance of voices was achieved when Yum-Yum was joined by Pitti-Sing (Abbie Guy) and Peep Bo (Joanna Dey) for the wonderful swung version of Three Little Maids.  Louise Daly, wearing heavily vampish make-up, was the vengeful Katisha, bringing another huge bluesy voice to her songs.

Splendid 1940s costumes, with the men in two-tone shoes and sharp suits - with the exception of the comical Ko-Ko (Julian Peckham), the timid Lord High Executioner, who was appropriately dressed in an over-sized check suit that looked as if it was intended for Nicely Nicely from Guys and Dolls.  The only song that doesn’t get the swing or gospel treatment is Ko-Ko’s “Tit Willow”.  It could be swung, but that would make it sound (relatively) cool, which it certainly isn’t, and neither is Ko-Ko.  On the other hand, Dave Wischuusen, revelling in the role of The Mikado, was the king of cool, and there was lots of comedy from Ian Rix as Pooh-Bah, making the most of his multiple offices as Lord High Everything Else.  Great fun.

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.